Follower.



Patented Jan. '9, I900.

H. F. BROWNE.

FDLLUWER.

Application filed May 18. 1889.)

(N0 Modelw 2 Sheets SheeL .l

N0. 640,869. 7 Patented Ian. 9, I900.-

' H. F. BROWNE.

FOLLDWER.

Application filed may 18. 1899.) I (No Model.) 2 Sheets-S h'eet 2. i

WITNSSSES:

NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

HENRY F BROWNE, OF NEWBURYPORT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO OLIVER A. MILLER, OF BROOKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOLLOWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,869, dated. January 9, 1900.

Application filed May 18, 1899.

T0 (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. BROWNE, of Newburyport,in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Followers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new and improved follower for footwear.

Of the drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts or features, as the case may be, wherever they occur, Figure 1 represents in side elevation a follower constructed in accordance with myinvention, the parts appearing'distended in the position they occupy when the follower is placed in a boot or shoe. Fig. 2 representsa similar view showing the parts contracted for insertion in a shoe. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of a follower with the parts positioned as in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a bottom plan view of a follower. Fig. 5 represents a top plan View of a follower. Fig. 6 represents a longitudinal sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 represents a detail cross-sectional View on the line 7 7 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 represents a cross-sectional detail View on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, wherein I have represented the best embodiment of my invention now known to me, a represents my improved follower, which is shown as composed of a heel part b and a multiple fore part f. The fore part f is divided into two laterally-expansible sections f f, each having a top portion f f that is vertically and longitudinally movable or expansible independently of the sections f f. The lateral expansion of the follower is effected by the sections f f, that carry with them laterally the top portions f f while the vertical and longitudinal expansion of the follower is effected by the top portions f f the springs that force these'portions upward also forcing them forward.

It follows from the described construction and arrangement of parts that when my improved follower is inserted in a shoe sections f f ,with the top portions f 2 f automatically expand laterally, while the top portions f f by an independent movement expand vertically and longitudinally, thus completely fill- Serial No. 717,241. (No model.)

I ing the shoe and making the upper conform to the shape given it by the first last, either laterally, vertically, or longitudinally. This is an important advantage, since if a follower only expands laterally it tends to flatten the upper, thus changing the designed appearance of the shoe. On the other hand, in followers where there is no provision for lateral expansion and the top portion is arranged to have a vertical movement the upper is unduly lifted, and besides changing the shape of the shoe when the shoe is manipulated on the said follower the upper falls or is forced into the space between the raised top of the follower, thereby creasing the upper along the line of said opening. By the use of my follower these objections are all overcome. The follower automatically fills all parts of the shoe, the tendency to flatten the upper is prevented by the vertical expansion of the top, while undue lifting action of the top is prevented by the lateral expansion of the follower, thus automatically adapting itself to the varying widths and lengths of shoes and designs of uppers.

The heel part b is connected to the multiple fore part by means of a hinge Z). (See Figs. 3 and 5.) One leaf of the hinge b is secured to the heel, and the other leaf of the hinge is provided with two slots 19 11 Each of the sections f of the multiple fore part is secured to the slotted leaf of the hinge by means of screws b ,which hold the sections to the hinge, but at the same time permit these sections, by reason of the slot 6 to move laterally toward and from each other.

h h represent coiled springs having their ends arranged in complemental recesses on the opposing faces of sections f f ,said springs acting to normally force said sections apart to give the follower the desired lateral expanslon.

It represents a plate secured at one end by a screw to one of the sections f. The other end of this plate is formed with a slot 7?. A screw h passing through the slot into the other section f, permits the plate to have a sliding engagement with the screw to serve as a guide and also to serve to limit the lateral expansion of the follower. Each section f carries a top portion f f represents a screw passing through an opening in the rear part section f and secured to section f f represents a coiled spring arranged about said screw and complemental recesses in the opposing faces of sections f J. The head of the screw f is arranged-in a countersunk hole in the section f. By this construction the top f has a vertical expansive motion, the amount of which can be adjusted at any time by means of the screws.

f represents a guide-pin, here shown as a screw, passing through a slot f near the forward end of the section f into the top part f The head of the screw f is arranged in a countersunk hole in the part f.

f represents awasherslotted to correspond with the slot f. The spring f not only forces the parts f upward, but also forward, the upward movement being limited by screws f the amount of the forward movement being limited by the slot f".

It is old in the. art to provide a follower with a hinged heel and also to divide a follower into parts by a vertical out and make said parts distensible. I base no claim upon either of these features, my invention consisting in a multiple divided follower constructed and arranged to expand vertically as well as laterally, as described.

Myimproved follower not only properly fills out the shoe and preserves the shape given it by the original last, but by reason of the screws f and the amount of the play of the screws f and 6 which may be varied at pleasure, the extent to which a follower shall expand in any direction can be adjusted for the various dimensions of a shoe.

Haring thus explained the nature of my invention and described a way of constructing and using the same, though without attempting to set forth all the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, what I 1 foot member, the foot memberheing composed of two laterally-expansible lower sections and a verticallyexpansihle top section connected to each lower section.

4. A follower comprising a heel member, a foot member, the foot member being composed of two late rally-ex pansible lower sections and a vertically-expansible, longitudinally-movable top section connected to each lower section.

5. A follower comprising a foot member having two laterally-expansible members, to each of which is connected avertically-expausible, longitudinally-movable top.

6. A self-adjusting follower comprising a heel member, a two-part expansible foot member formed with expansible top sections.

7. A follower comprising a fore part, a heel part, the fore part having two laterally-expansible sections to each of which is connected a vertically-expansible top and means for adjusting the amount of the expansion of said parts.

In testimony whereof I have aifixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY F. BROXVNE.

VViLnesses:

Brennan H. ALnoEs, EDWARD F. BARTLETT. 

